Rose Marie Genovese passed away peacefully April 13, 2022 in Tinton Falls. She was a loving and adored wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her passing, after 88 years, leaves a whole in many hearts and souls.
Rose Marie is survived by her husband Philip. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in September. She is also survived by their three sons and their families: Philip Genovese Jr., his wife MaryAnn and their three children, John Taylor (and his wife Jennifer and great-grandchildren Emma, Sam and John), Melissa Genovese Fitch (and her husband Michael P.), and Thomas (and his fiancée Kaitlyn Dolan); son Geoffrey Genovese, his life partner Julie Nawrocki and his daughter Uliana; son Michael Genovese, his fiancée Shan Gao, his daughters, Erika, Mia Lund (and her husband Christian), and Tara, (predeceased by Diane Genovese, his wife and their mother). She is also survived by sister-in-law Nancy Simonetti and her family and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Rose Marie was born in Red Bank and attended St. James Grammar School and Red Bank Catholic High School, where she met her future husband Phil. Soon after they married, they built their home and raised their sons in Shrewsbury. There, she was a communicant of St. Dorothea’s Catholic Church.
She was small – 5-feet-2-and-a-half-inches tall – and never forget the half inch part or else you would be quickly reminded. She was, though, a mighty presence who filled the room with her beauty, energy and sheer will. Her husband recognized her as a “force of nature.”
Rose Marie was a dedicated wife and mother. She worked hard to keep all her boys on a straight path, making sure they ate food-group friendly meals and dressed as they should, not as they might have. Phil and her boys profited from the unspoken rule that if it was her house to keep, it would be kept her way. She was active in local school activities and was a Cub Scout Den Mother. She hosted all the family holiday meals and never failed to make too much for her delicious feasts.
After raising her sons, Rose Marie earned an Associate Degree from Brookdale Community College. She was a substitute teacher in Shrewsbury and Red Bank grammar schools and then had a successful career as a Realtor with Brokers 3 of Shrewsbury.
She enjoyed a wide circle of friends and liked to play bridge and tennis and ski. She loved summers at the beach club with her family. Rose Marie was the architect of the family vacations, one of which was a trip to Rome for which she employed her charm and tenacity to secure the family a private audience with Pope Paul VI, a singular and cherished memory for all.
All her grandchildren loved the sleepovers at Grandma and Pop Pop’s. Adults all now, they still talk about those the special nights. So many loved her so much.
Visitation was held April 19 at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A Mmmorial Mass was celebrated
April 20 at St. James Catholic Church, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, please dedicate an act of kindness to the memory of Rose Marie.
Please visit Rose Marie’s memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the April 21 – 27, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
